David Bentley: Does Anyone Remember Bentley's Right Foot?

If you do not, you may be excused from what would have seemed abominable a couple of seasons ago. David Bentley is the former Arsenal talent who was marked as the next David Beckham because of his terrific crosses and threat from set pieces.

He is also the first player to have scored a hat-trick against the great (I couldn't resist) Manchester United in the Premier League era (Dirk Kuyt has since equaled that feat).

Bentley, a former England international, was only 16 when he started training with the senior team at Arsenal. Originally a forward, he found himself being used more as a wide midfield player because of his terrific crosses.

Not content to wait his turn on the Arsenal bench, he went on loan to Norwich City and then Blackburn before securing a permanent switch to Blackburn in 2006. At Blackburn, he overcame what he described as "his loss of interest in football" and his gambling addiction (at one time, he was placing 100 bets a day) and showed this when on his first game, he scored a hat-trick in a 4-3 win over Manchester United.

He was at his peak during the 2006-2007 Premier League season, scoring some stunning goals in the league as well as a stunning 25-yard volley in the UEFA Cup.

At this point in his career, the transfer speculation was rife as is to be expected and despite being linked to United, he signed a contract extension with Rovers in February 2007 that would have kept him at the club till 2011. However, upon stating his desire to join a bigger club, he joined Tottenham in July 2008 for a signing fee of £15 million.

At Tottenham, the former England Under-18 captain struggled to find his best form and with Aaron Lennon in good form and the recent heroics by Bale, he finds himself down the pecking order. The highlight of his Tottenham career will no doubt be his 43-yard dipping volley against his former side Arsenal in their 4-4 draw in October, 2008 which was the Premier League goal of the month.

David Bentley’s is a story of a young man who could have had it all but who is currently struggling to even make his first team. But at just 26 years of age, he still has time to bring back those fond memories we had of him.

His is pure talent and you do not just lose your talent. He may have to switch to a smaller team, give himself two or three seasons of first-team play and rediscover his best form (it will probably take just a season). I really believe his is a lack of confidence and opportunity rather than ability.

He has shown us before that he can do it. Hopefully we will once again be amazed by David Bentley’s right foot.